Vane pump



March 3, 1970 R. E. DI LLBERG VANE PUMP Filed Feb. 15, 1968 IMVJA/TOA.

. 2 Arrow/ W7 M 0 a 0 m 7 United States Patent 3,498,233 VANE PUMPRaymond E. Dillberg, Temple City, Cal1f., asslgnor to Ormco Corporation,Glendora, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Feb. 15. 1968, Ser.No. 705,673 Int. Cl. F04c 9/00 U.S. Cl. 103--146 3 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A compact vane-type pump is described which isparticularly useful for dental hygiene purposes, but which has generalutility. A vane is reciprocally mounted in an inner chamber in the pump,and the vane has a port extending through it with a flutter valvepositioned in the port. The vane is reciprocally moved from one angularposition to the other in the inner chamber during the operation of thepump, so as to draw fluid into the chamber and to force fluid out of thechamber, as will be described.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years oral irrigators have becomea prev- :alent means for cleansing the mouth and teeth. Theseinstruments operate to direct a high pressure fluid jet into the mouthand into the spaces between the teeth and gums. The improved vane pumpof the present invention, as mentioned above, is particularly suited fororal hygiene purposes, since it may be constructed to be light andcompact, and yet it is capable of delivering a highly pressurized jet offluid through its outlet. However, as also mentioned, the pump of theinvention has general utility.

The vane pump of the present invention, as will be described, may beconstructed of appropriate non-corrosive material, such as nylon, and itmay be driven, for example, by a shaded pole electric motor. When sodriven, the pump is capable of producing a fine high velocity jet offluid which pulsates, for example, at a rate of the order of 1300pulsations per minute. The resulting fluid jet, as mentioned above, maythen be directed against the gums of the user, or against other areas tobe treated. The use of the relatively low frequency pulsations in thejet produced by the pump of the invention has been found .to provide aneffective massaging and stimulating action; so as to clean andmanipulate the gum tissue, when the instrument is used for oral hygienepurposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The vane pump of the present invention is onein which a vane is pivotally mounted within a chamber on a drive shaft,and is driven by, the drive shaft in a manner so that the vane isreciprocated angularly back and forth in the chamber. The vane dividesthe chamber into an inlet compartment and an outlet compartment. Aninlet line extends into the inlet compartment, and an outlet lineextends out from the outlet compartment. The vane has a port extendingthrough it, and a flutter valve is positioned on the vane across thelast named port. As the vane moves angularly in a first direction, itdraws fluid into the inlet compartment of the chamber while, at the sametime, driving fluid out of the outlet compartment. On the other hand,when the vane moves angularly in the opposite direction, the fluid inthe inlet compartment passes through the port in the vane and into theoutlet compartment.

3,498,233 Patented Mar. 3, 1970 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE1 is a front elevational view of a vane pump which may be constructed inaccordance with the concepts of the present invention, and of a suitableelectric motor for driving the pump;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly of FIGURE 1;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT The pump of thepresent invention may be driven by an electric motor 10. The motor 110,for example, may be of the shaded pole type, as described above, so thatit may be easily started and stopped, conveniently to control the actionof the pump. The motor 10 has a drive shaft 12, and a pinion 14 is keyedto the end of the drive shaft. The motor is mounted on a mounting plate18, by means of screws, such as the screws 11. The pinion 14 drives asecond pinion 16 which is rotatably mounted on the mounting plate 18. Aneccentric pin 20 on the pinion 16 extends into a slot in a lever arm 22,the slot being identified as 24.

A pump housing 28 is also mounted on the mounting plate 18. A rotorshaft 30 for the pump is rotatably supported in a bearing bushing 34 onthe mounting plate. The rotor shaft 30 extends through an aperture in acover member 31 which is supported on blocks 33 and 35 by means, forexample, of screws 37 and 39 (FIG- URE 1). The housing 28 is supportedon the cover 31 by means of screws 41 (FIGURES 1 and 2), and 0- rings 43and 45 effectively seal the cover 31 and the housing 28, as well as thedrive shaft 30 and the cover. The lever arm 22 is coupled to the rotorshaft 30, by virtue of a rectangular sleeve 32 which is keyed to therotor shaft and which extends through a corresponding rectangularaperture in the arm 22. A screw 47 is threaded through the arm 22 so asto hold the arm tightly on the sleeve 32.

It will be appreciated that as the motor 10 rotates the pinion 16, thepin 20 causes the arm 22 to oscillate angularly back and forth,producing a similar angular oscillation to the rotor shaft 30 of thepump.

The pump casing 28 may be formed of an appropriate plastic material,such as nylon, or other suitable material, which is preferablynoncorrosive. The casing 28 defines an inner chamber 49, and a vane 36,which is mounted on the rotor shaft 30, is supported in the chamber. Thevane 36 effectively divides the chamber 49 into two compartments. Thecompartment on one side of the vane may be termed the inlet compartmentand a suitable inlet line 40 extends into that compartment. The vanealso divides the chamber 35 into an outlet compartment, and a suitableoutlet line 42 extends from the outlet compartment.

The vane 36 is shaped to have a resilient peripheral portion 36a whichengages the inner peripheral wall of the chamber 49 effectively to sealthe inlet compartment from the outlet compartment. The vane 36 has aport 3617 extending through it, and a check valve 44 of the flapper orflutter type is pivotally mounted on the vane adjacent the port 36b. Thecheck valve 44 moves to close the port 36b when the vane moves in aclockwise direction, for example, to the left in FIGURE 4; and the checkvalve moves away from the port 36b effectively 3 to open the port whenthe va-ne moves in a counterclockwise direction to the right in FIGURE4.

The operation of the pump is such that when the motor is energized, thevane 36 'is caused to oscillate angularly within the chamber 4 9. Eachtime the vane moves in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURE 4. forexample, the fluid in the inlet compartment passes through the port 36binto the outlet compartment. Then, when the vane moves in a clockwisedirection, the check valve 44 closes, and the fluid in the outletcompartment is forced out through the outlet line 42 while, at the sametime, additional fluid is drawn into the inlet compartment through theinlet line 40, so that the cycle may be repeated.

The invention provides, therefore, a simple and eflicient vane-type pumpwhich can be housed in a relatively small casing, and which is simpleand easy to operate. Moreover, the pump may be constructed relativelyinexpensively, and sold at a relatively low price.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been described,modifications may be made. It is intended in the claims to cover themodifications which come within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A vane pump assembly including:

a mounting plate;

an electric motor mounted on one side of said mounting plate and havinga drive shaft extending through said mounting plate;

a pump housing mounted on the opposite side of said mounting plate anddefining an inner chamber having an inlet and an outlet;

a rotor shaft mounted on said mounting plate and exending through saidinner chamber defined by said pump housing;

a lever arm coupled to said rotor shaft and extending radially withrespect thereto;

eccentric means coupling said lever arm to said drive shaft to causesaid lever arm to operate angularly back and forth upon rotation of saiddrive shaft thereby producing angular oscillations of said rotor shaft;and

a vane mounted on said rotar shaft and disposed in said inner chamberfor reciprocal angular movement in said inner chamber, said vane havinga port therein and check valve means mounted on said vane across saidport, said vane being angularly movable by said rotorshaft in a firstdirection to draw fluid into said inner chamber through said inlet assaid vane moves against fluid in said inner chamber to close said valvemeans and discharge said fluid out of said inner chamber through saidoutlet, and said valve being angularly movable by said rotor shaft inthe opposite direction to open said valve means and cause fluid to passthrough said port from one side of said vane to the other in said innerchamber.

2. The vane pump assembly defined in claim 1,' in

which said vane includes an integral resilient portion engaging a wallof said chamber and moving along said wall in sealing relationshiptherewith as said vane is moved angularly in said first direction.

3. The vane pump assembly defined in claim 1, in

which said eccentric means includes a first pinion mounted on said driveshaft on the opposite side of said mounting plate from said motor; asecond pinion rotata'bly mounted on said mounting plate and engagingsaid first pinion, and a pin mounted on said second pinion and extendingaxially therefrom, said lever arm having a slot therein for receivingsaid pin.

35,465 6/1862 Munson 103-146 122,722 1/1872 Horsey 103146 FOREIGNPATENTS 1846 Great Britain. 1880 Great Britain.

WILLIAM L. FREEH, Primary Examiner W. J. GOODLIN, Assistant Examiner

